Replicating Famous Diamonds with John Haddelber

Summary

In this article, we interview John Haddelber, a professional diamond replicator who talks about his experience in recreating famous diamonds like the Hope Diamond, Koh-i-Noor, and Dresden Green Diamond. John shares his passion for gems and the meticulous process of replicating these precious stones.

How do you create diamond replicas?
What are the challenges in replicating diamonds?
Can you tell us about your experience in replicating the Hope Diamond?
How do you ensure the accuracy of your replicas?
What do you hope people take away from looking at your replicas?

How do you create diamond replicas?

John explains the process of creating a diamond replica. He starts by making a silicon mold of the top and bottom of the diamond that needs to be replicated. He pours a micro-resin cast from the mold to create an architectural model that serves as a template. Then, he uses a grease pencil to mark the exact angles and indices from the original diamond to unlock all the original angles and indices from the cutter. John follows the footsteps of the original diamond cutter by reverse engineering the process of cutting facets on the replica.

What are the challenges in replicating diamonds?

John shares that replicating a diamond takes at least 6 months of meticulous work because he is very precise with what he does. He uses a basic machine, a fastening machine, to regulate the angle and the indic of the facet on the replica. He emphasizes that cutting below what the mass of the actual diamond is will result in an imperfect replica.

Can you tell us about your experience in replicating the Hope Diamond?

John shares that the Hope Diamond is his most favorite gem to work on. He has recreated three iterations of the Hope Diamond, including a color test. He describes the intricacies of the crystal and how the gold behind it reflects light, making it a symbol of Louis XI’s reign. John also shows a cast that he took from the actual Hope Diamond that is 100% accurate in size.

How do you ensure the accuracy of your replicas?

John ensures the accuracy of his replicas by being very precise with the angles and indices of the facet. He also takes into consideration any irregularities or imperfections on the original diamond, and he replicates them on his replica, as well.

What do you hope people take away from looking at your replicas?

John hopes that people will appreciate the beauty and the intricacies of diamonds when they look at his replicas. He believes that diamonds have taken on so much symbolism throughout history and that he tries to bring many different personalities and aspects to the gems he replicates. John also hopes that people will take away from the experience of looking at his replicas that the second type of beauty that diamonds possess, thanks to their longevity, makes them precious in a different manner than mortal beauty.

Conclusion

John Haddelber has a deep passion for gems and replicating famous diamonds. His meticulous process for creating replicas ensures that he can unlock all the original angles and indices from the cutter. John’s replicas have helped bring famous diamonds to people who might not otherwise have had the chance to see them up close. His work allows us to appreciate the beauty and intricacy of diamonds in a whole new way.